The Cortez family, which operates three prominent restaurants in west downtown, are planning a fourth. Viva Villa Taqueria is in the works in a 3,000-square-foot space inside the Concho Street retail building, facing Dolorosa street, just west of La Margarita restaurant inside Market Square, where the family owns the whole city block south of Produce […]
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From friend to cashier, from co-worker to social media follower, the omnipresent comment so far this Fiesta 2014 has been, “What’s up with Market Square?” The answer is that it will switch from dormant to full Fiesta frenzy beginning Saturday. That’s when Fiesta de Los Reyes at Market Square officially starts with multiple stages and […]
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The City Council unanimously approved the creation of the El Mercado Zona Cultural on Thursday, which labels the once-thriving west end of downtown as an arts and cultural district. District 2 Councilwoman Ivy Taylor was not present. The distinction is the first step in a multifaceted strategy to reinvigorate the west end of downtown through […]
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The western part of downtown thrived once. As a kid, in the ’50s, you could spend half a Saturday at the Alameda Theater, taking in a movie and live entertainment before and after the movie. There were others in the area: Obrero Theatre and the Joy Theatre. Locally-owned cafes. Barbershops. And bars, were there bars: […]
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Altars remembering the deceased have begun to spring up throughout downtown for Dia de los Muertos. There are many more to come. La Villita The hotbed of Dia de los Muertos activities will be La Villita on Friday and Saturday. Like in years past, the fountain at the center of Maverick Plaza will be transformed […]
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The play ‘Los Pastores’ is performed at La Villita in 2010. This year, Market Square hosts two performances. KIN MAN HUI / EXPRESS-NEWS The hourlong play “Los Pastores” (the Shepherds) is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Market Square’s Mariachi Plaza. The performance sung in Spanish has become a San Antonio […]
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Even with Halloween still upon us, it’s never too early to talk Dia de los Muertos. Staring Thursday, several altars will be ready for public view at downtown’s most iconic locations. LA VILLITA La Villita is chock–full of activities and exhibits 3-9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Click on the thumbnail below for […]
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About a month ago, Market Square received a trash compactor for recycled materials for shop owners to use. “All of the products that get delivered here either come in boxes or are wrapped in newspaper,” said Paula Stallcup, director of downtown operations. “When you think of all of the almost 100 merchants we have at […]
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Let’s get one thing straight: if you go to the Return of the Chili Queens festival this Memorial Day weekend at Market Square, you’re not guaranteed to actually eat chili. It’s a cook-off/competition sanctioned by the Chili Appreciation Society International, so the teams are more concerned with accumulating points, rather than feeding the masses. That […]
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They didn’t have a chance. As wild cards, a handful of 107.5 KXTN listeners won entry into Sunday’s La Costeña Feel the Heat Jalapeño Championship Challenge, an event sanctioned by Major League Eating, at Market Square. They would be eating competitively shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti, the world’s No. […]
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Jalapeño Explosion 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday El Mercado Free Around this time last year, at El Mercado, there was something called La Costeña Feel the Heat Jalapeño Eating Championship Challenge, the title itself a mouthful. What I failed to realize was that the contest, as far as competitive eating circuits go, featured some of the […]
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Fiesta de los Reyes at Market Square is what was formerly Fiestas Fantasias. But I just call it Market Square. It’s Fiesta at it’s best. It’s where gang members and white people rub shoulders, drink beer and gordita gorge. It also happens to pack the most conjunto and Tejano music of any Fiesta event. All […]
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A construction crew work Market Square last week. If you’ve ever been to Market Square during Fiesta or any other popular time of the year, you brave soul, then you’re fully aware that things can get a bit claustrophobic especially on Produce Row. As part of the city’s capital improvements plan, construction is underway to […]
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